“The friend who attends the bridegroom” was the person selected by the bridegroom to conduct the marriage negotiations on his part. It was he who carried messages between the bridegroom and the bride during the time of the betrothal (see Matthew 1:18 Pledges of Marriage). Today, the role of best man is loosely based upon this tradition. This position John the Baptist claims for himself figuratively. He is not the Christ, but bears a relation to Him similar to that borne by the friend of the bridegroom.